Resurfacing means lane closures in heart of downtown Bethesda

Beginning Sunday night, the State Highway Administration will begin closing lanes of Wisconsin Avenue for resurfacing work in downtown Bethesda.

SHA crews and contractors have completed median work and utility relocations for new traffic signals along the stretch of road from Bradley Lane to Old Georgetown Road. Now the agency and its resurfacing contractor are ready to put down a new layer of smooth pavement.

SHA will take off the top layer of pavement, patch, resurface all traffic lanes and add new pavement markings to the roadway, which could mean the closure of up to two lanes of the three-lane road overnight, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The project is expected to be complete by late fall, weather permitting.

Additional work to pour and set concrete foundations for new traffic signal poles, sidewalks and ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps could mean the closure of one lane of traffic in both directions on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

SHA began the $2.5 million project last summer. The state says more than 45,000 vehicles use the section of Wisconsin Avenue each day, which has led to deteriorated pavement.